Chivas USA defeated UC Irvine Thursday morning, 2-1, in a friendly held at the StubHub Center’s Field 6. The sides competed in three 35-minute periods where the Goats came from a goal behind to claim the win on academy product Jose Gomez’s score in the third period and Aaron Ponce’s game-winner in the closing moments of the scrimmage on a penalty kick. The Anteaters’ lone goal came on forward Lester Hayes’ tally in the first period.

The Goats began testing the collegiate side early by getting into range but could not capitalize on their first looks at taking the initial lead. Tristan Bowen made a solo run down the right seam and got off a chip shot that sailed over the crossbar in the 10th minute. In the 25th minute, Bowen nearly combined with Gabriel Farfan to open the scoring when the midfielder back-heeled a pass to Bowen inside the box, but UCI goalkeeper Michael Breslin cut down the forward’s space and was able to deny the threat.

Five minutes later Jose Manuel Rivera took a dangerous free kick on the right seam from about 25 yards out, but his curling shot was not on frame as it traveled over the crossbar. UCI went up a goal in the 35th minute when Enrique Cardenas, from the right sideline, threaded a long through ball to a sprinting Hayes down the middle of the attacking third for the score after getting past the Red-and-White defense to head into the first intermission.

The Rojiblancos nearly equalized in the 51st minute when Julio Morales unleashed a strike from the top of the box that crashed into the right post and was promptly cleared out by UCI’s defense. However, the Goats would not be denied the chance to pull even as Gomez – who came on as a sub at center midfield – took control of the ball in the box and tapped it in past Breslin in the 90th minute.

Chivas put the exclamation point on the come-from-behind win when Ponce cashed in a penalty kick in the final minute of the contest. Moises Orozco worked the ball into box and got around two defenders before chipping his pass to Daniel Delgado who drew enough contact to warrant the penalty. Ponce lined up and fired his shot past the keeper’s left to put the Goats up 2-1 for good.

Chivas USA will return to league action as part of their short week to close out their three-game homestand when they host the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, Aug. 25, in a 2 p.m. (PT) kickoff at StubHub Center. The match will be the only meeting between the sides during the 2013 campaign and will be televised in Spanish on UniMas and will be broadcasted in Spanish on W Radio 690 AM. For more information visit cdchivasusa.com and follow us on Twitter @cdchivasusa and Facebook.com/chivasusa.